Sanding disk tool

ABSTRACT

A tool device suitable for use with a driver, the tool assembly being suitable for work operations such as grinding, polishing, sanding, finishing and the like, the tool device providing a disk shape of rigid or pliable material and a central driving spindle connectable to the driver, the disk being provided with a plurality of radial grooves and tendons therein to capture and present abrasive/polishing elements to a work piece, such radial tendons being permanently attached at one end but releasable from the other end for the purpose of loading and unloading the abrasive/polishing elements. The abrasive/polishing elements are prepared in such a way so as when presented to the work-piece a cushioning/cooling effect is achieved via the generous airflow through and around the elements.

This invention is an improved Sanding Disk with replaceable sanding and other working elements, to be used in workshop machines such as a pedestal drill, a portable powered drill or similar tool for example.

This invention provides a circular disk fabricated in a rubber or similar compound, retaining wires, a cup washer, a space washer, a male threaded screw and a drive spindle with a female thread in the lower end, with a plain shaft at the upper end.

The face of the disk that is presented to the work piece has a number of concave grooves radiating from a central area outwards to the outer edge of the disk to position the chosen elements, and retaining wires to hold those elements firmly in place. For this device a reference to six grooves and six retaining wires will be demonstrated.

The six retaining wires are of a suitable tensile strength and of a particular shape so as to hold in position either abrasive tubes, or small cut to size sheets of leather, scouring material, fabric or abrasive paper. The forgoing will achieve sanding, shaping, cleaning, burnishing or polishing, depending on the element used.

The back of the disk that faces away from the work piece has the drive spindle located in a central position so that the shaft of the drive spindle can engage into the chuck of the driving tool.

Each of the retaining wires are shaped in such a way so as to allow a degree of rotation from where they are permanently attached in holes around the outer edge of the disk for the purpose of loading the chosen element. The inner ends of the retaining wires are shaped so as to be held in place at the centre of the disk by way of a centrally located washer. This washer has a number of holes presented at equidistant intervals around the outer perimeter, For the purpose of this example six holes. The centrally located washer is fixed down by a threaded screw that passes through a central hole in the cup washer then through a central hole in the disk. The threaded screw is then engaged into the female threaded end of the drive spindle. A washer is located between the back of the disk and the drive spindle.

To load the device the threaded screw is loosened releasing the inner ends of the retaining wires from the holes in the washer. The inner ends of the retaining wires are moved outwards and up slightly and the chosen elements are loaded onto or under each wire. The inner ends of the retaining wires are pushed down under the washer, positioning the inner end of each wire up through its corresponding hole and the threaded screw is tightened down.

If abrasive tubes are the chosen element to load into this device the design allows for the quick release of the retaining wires by loosening the central screw. The tubes can then be rotated thus ensuring all of the available abrasive surface is utilized. In the case of other single sheet elements, they can be removed, turned around. and refitted to fully utilise their surface.

This invention is an improvement on other similar devices known commonly as disk sanders. Disk sanders allow only a small area of the chosen element to engage the work at any time causing excess heat and clogging of the element. Attempting to apply all of the element to the work surface can make control difficult.

This invention allows for the total area of the chosen elements to be applied to the work surface. The design of this device allows a significant volume of air to pass around and through the chosen elements resulting in a cushioning cooling and easy to control effect.

FIG. 1 shows a pictorial view of a preferred example of the face of the disk that is presented to the work piece according to this invention.

FIG. 2 shows a pictorial view of a preferred example of the back of the disk with its attachment to the driving tool according to this invention.

FIG. 3 shows the device loaded with six abrasive tubes.

FIG. 4 shows the device fully loaded and assembled with six alternative elements.

To assist with understanding the invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which show examples of the invention.

REFERRING TO FIG. 1 The working face of the disk 1 has six concave grooves 2 (one of the six) of equidistant spacing around the face that is presented to the work piece The concave grooves 2 radiate from a central area to the outer edge. There are six retaining wires of a particular shape 3 (one of the six) that are attached loosely through holes 14 in the outer edge 4 so as to allow the inner ends to be lifted upwards 5. When the retaining wires are lifted the abrasive tube or chosen element can be easily fitted. The inner ends of the retaining wires are then pushed down and under the central washer 6 to locate each wire in its corresponding hole 6A (one of the six) The threaded screw 7 is placed through the hole 8 in the washer 6, and through the hole 9 in the centre of the disk to engage the female thread 10 of the drive spindle 11.

REFERRING TO FIG. 2 The back of the disk 12 shows (in this example) the abrasive tubes 13 fitted into the concave grooves 2 on the working face 1 and the attachment of the retaining wires 3 through the holes 14 in the outer perimeter of the disk. The threaded screw 7 having been passed through from the working face has the washer 15 placed over it and then tightened into the female threaded end 10 of the drive spindle 11. The upper end of the drive spindle 16 is engaged into the chuck of the driving tool.

REFERRING TO FIG. 3 The working face of the disk 1 shows the abrasive tubes 13 fitted onto the retaining wires 3 and with the inner ends of those wires captured by the holes in the washer 6 with the threaded screw 7 to be tightened into the drive spindle 11.

REFERRING TO FIG. 4 The working face of the disk 1 shows the alternative single sheet element 17 and then six of those elements 17 (one of the six) fitted onto the retaining wires 3 and with the inner ends of those wires captured by the holes in the washer 6 and tightened down with the treaded screw 7 into the drive spindle 11.

Finally, it is to be understood that the inventive concept in any of its aspects can be incorporated in many different constructions so that the generality of the preceding description is not to be superseded by the particularity of the attached drawings. Various alterations, modifications and/or additions may be incorporated into the various constructions and arrangements of parts without departing from the spirit or ambit of the invention. 

1. A sanding disk tool suitable for use with a driver, the tool assembly being suitable for work operations such as grinding, polishing, sanding, finishing and the like, the sanding disk tool providing a disk shape of rigid or pliable material and a central driving spindle connectable to the driver, the disk being provided with a plurality of radial grooves and tendons therein to capture and present a multiplicity of resilient/flexible abrasive/polishing elements to a work piece, such radial tendons being permanently attached and rotatable at the outer perimeter, but releasable at their inner end for the purpose of loading and unloading the abrasive/polishing elements.
 2. A tool device according to claim 1 wherein the tool device is suitable for use with a driver which includes a drilling machine including a motor, a drive spindle, and a drill chuck; the disk shaped body being operatively connectable to the drill chuck by the provided drive spindle.
 3. A tool device according to claim 1 where the abrasive/polishing elements may be flexible tubular sleeves.
 4. A tool device according to claim 1 where the abrasive/polishing elements may be flexible sheet material. 